Despite its internal issues and the damage it has caused to the Owens Valley that it has caused over time, the LA DWP has one thing going for it: It doesn't hav

Despite its internal issues and the damage it has caused to the Owens Valley that it has caused over time, the LA DWP has one thing going for it: It doesn't have to deliver a profit to investors. To me, this eclipses the fact that some people may be overpaid. If you live in a city served by an investor-owned utility, and the LA DWP, you'll pay considerably less for electric power per kilowatt hour from the DWP, then you will from someone like Southern California Edison. I'm of the opinion that utilities should be non-profit entities along with education and healthcare. I know this will stick in the craw of some people, but having to pay dividends to investors is what causes electric rates to be too high. Also, I believe that overpaying the employees of a public utility can be tolerated in moderation, and that the additional salary paid out is money put to better use than paying dividends to investors.